Man's bail is $3 million in fatal beating of wife

May 03, 2005

LAKE COUNTY — A North Chicago man is being held in Lake County Jail in lieu of $3 million bail, charged in the beating death of his wife Sunday, authorities said.

Earl Smith, 48, of the 2400 block of 24th Street, is accused of killing his wife, Stephanie, 39, with a piece of wood, said North Chicago Police Cmdr. Walter Holderbaum. He is charged with first-degree murder and appeared Monday in Bond Court.

Smith and his wife got into a quarrel when he accused her of having a relationship with another man, Holderbaum said. She denied it and he hit her with the piece of wood, according to Holderbaum. After she lost consciousness, Smith told police that he took her to the bathtub to revive her. Around 6:55 a.m., Smith called for an ambulance.

Smith told police that his wife slipped while taking a shower, Holderbaum said. But police noticed that the injuries did not appear to be consistent with a fall in the tub and that Smith's right hand was injured, he said. Stephanie Smith was taken to St. Therese Medical Center in Waukegan, where she was pronounced dead.

Associate Circuit Judge Victoria Martin set Smith's next court date for May 23.